DES MOINES, Iowa — A bill advanced through an Iowa House judiciary subcommittee on Wednesday would prohibit the sale, distribution and administering of vaccines if the manufacturer does not waive liability protections.

The proposal aims to waive liability immunity from lawsuits relating to “injury arising from a design defect of the vaccine, including immunity granted by federal National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act.” The bill advanced out of subcommittee along party lines by a vote of two republicans against one democrat.

“I’ve been waiting 15 years to see this common sense legislation because every industry and business in Iowa should be liable for the products they produce and sell to consumers,” said Courtney Collier of Waukee. “It should not be legal for a medical professional to offer a product to Iowans that both they and the manufacturer 100% free from liability if it harms or kills a patient.”

Those in favor of the bill argued that something needs to be done at a state level to protect Iowans from federal protections some manufacturers receive.

Medical professionals, students and organizations spoke in opposition to the proposal.

“I can sympathize with the people, the children that have been harmed. And again I reiterate this is a federal, there availability through the federal level,” said Julie Gibbons, a retired nurse. “If this bill gets passed this will decrease Iowans’ access to vaccines. And as we’ve heard before, they save countless lives.”

The sponsor of the bill, State Representative Charley Thomson (R) District 58 of Charles City told reporters that he expects amendments to the language of the bill as it moves forward in the process.

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